Fakhraie, 27, lives a life in Corvallis that is littered with broken stereotypes, but she chose an essay for “I Speak for Myself” that makes her sound like any young adult, religious or not, who dreads going home.

“Underneath it all, we Muslims aren’t that different,” she says. “Our experience is the American experience.”

Give the whole thing a read and learn all about me. There are some pretty cool photos in there, too!